Steph and I have decided to start TTC

It's the most exhausting, expensive, challenging, frustrating, exhilarating, rewarding and wonderful things you could ever experience.

Everything you think you know about your life's perspective, focus and priorities WILL completely change, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

My "Newcomer's advice" ?

1. don't listen to advice on the internet without verifying it from at least 3 credible sources (you hear all kinds of weird child raising stories/theories on the 'Net...)
2. Always do the following, no matter what age:
   1. Encourage them to explore, imagine, question, play, do and learn,
   2. Encourage them to be themselves no matter what the rest of the world tells them or you,(and most importantly)
   3. Love them and be there for them no matter what.

But the fact that you guys are thinking about this and asking those questions - you probably have a lot of that figured out already

mandytheartist said:

Steph and I were in bed the other night. I told her that now that we have some economic stability (my art career going well, her postdoctoral salary), I'd love to start thinking about a baby.

Any advice for newcomers to this journey?

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Not sure. But good luck to you.

Kyrrinstoch said:

don't listen to advice on the internet without verifying it from at least 3 credible sources (you hear all kinds of weird child raising stories/theories on the 'Net...)

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That is sound advice, but I would go a little further. Cause I did that and found it still didn't work for me, I even read multiply books. My best example is a baby needs X amount of sleep. So I made sure my daughter went to bed on time and then she would walk up much earlier than she should have. I counted the hours she napped and the hours slept at night and she was hours off the minimum suggested time. I couldn't figure our how to "make" her sleep the required amount. I've learned that every child is different. I eventually just gave her the opportunity to sleep and I eventually learned how much my daughter needed.

It is very difficult not to compare how your child is doing to other children. My brother was walking at 9 months and it took me till I was 18 months. Same with talking, potty training and everything else (not saying my brother was potty trained at 9 months, but my mother swears my sister was at age 1). It was very hard for me not to get a little 'competitive' in how great my child was and disappointed or discouraged when she didn't measure up to my friends child. Every kid is so different and what works for one kid will probably not work for another. Each has their own very unique DNA.

Kyrrinstoch said:

It's the most exhausting, expensive, challenging, frustrating, exhilarating, rewarding and wonderful things you could ever experience.

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I agree completely, so just enjoy the journey and get some sleep now while your still able. There will be some sleepless nights ahead (of course your kid will be a great sleeper and never wake you up and you'll wonder what I'm taking about).

mandytheartist said:

Kyrr: the only really "crunchy" stuff we'd do:

1) Cloth diapers
2) Breastfeed for as long as they want

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My wife and I tried the cloth diapers with our first born (we have 5 kids) but found them to be a pain. They leaked and having them sit in pails of water before laundry was always a touch smelly. Breastfeed them as long as they want (or until they start teething). And I agree with hikerDana, they will sleep when hey get tired, not so much if they doesn't feel like it. Raising kids is a labor of love, enjoy parenthood.

You got me over a barrel on that topic.